Etihad Airways, the global airline partner of 12 Taste Festivals worldwide, brought renowned international chefs to Abu Dhabi to compete in the final of the ‘Taste the World’ competition.

On the last day of
the festival, Linda Celestino, Vice President Guest Experience and Delivery, awarded
Chef Kotaro Noda of Bistrot64 with the ‘Taste the World’ trophy: “I am truly
honoured to present this prestigious award to Kotaro. This is no doubt a tough
competition and he is truly a master of the art. We are so pleased to have him
here in our home city of Abu Dhabi.”

Kotaro Noda also
received Etihad Airways Business Class tickets to a destination of his choice
on the airline’s global network. Kotoro will also be featured in Etihad
Airways’ Inflight magazine Atlas and
will have the opportunity to host a cooking demonstration at his next local
Taste Festival. All 12 finalists were presented with a specially engraved
Dallah (traditional Arabic coffee pot).

Kotaro Noda, a
Michelin star chef, is the Head Chef at Bistro64, Rome. His winning dish (potato
spaghetti with butter and anchovies) took the judges to a world of gastronomy, innovation
and culinary expertise. On receiving the award, Kotaro said: “The past couple
of days have been an incredible experience here in Abu Dhabi and at Taste of
Abu Dhabi. To win such an incredible competition is truly an achievement and I
am honoured to have received it today. It was amazing to be in Abu Dhabi, representing
Bistro64 and I can’t wait to return home with the prize.”

Twelve chefs took
part in the event by competing over three days in cook-offs and cooking
demonstrations to reveal who among them best characterises Etihad Airways’ food
philosophy, which aims to provide the highest culinary experiences throughout
the entire guest journey – on the ground and in the air – using innovative
cooking techniques and the creative use of ingredients.

The partnership
between Etihad Airways and Taste Festivals is a core element of the airline’s
sponsorship strategy as it establishes itself as an aspirational lifestyle
brand. The airline’s association with Taste Festivals began in March 2016 with
events in a number of cities including Dubai, Sydney, London, and Hong Kong,
culminating with Taste of Abu Dhabi.

As part of its
commitment to provide a unique onboard service, Etihad Airways has 192 Inflight
Chefs and 495 Food and Beverage Managers who work in the premium cabins of its wide
body aircraft. Guests are able to experience the same levels of quality and
service as they would expect on the ground, through a personalised dining
experience at 35,000 feet.